Recap / Transformers Prime S 2 E 16 Hurt

"Bad things happen to bots when I leave their side."

— Miko

Miko, Jack, Arcee and Bumblebee's victorious return from Manhattan is cut horrifyingly short as they nearly crash into Bulkhead, still unresponsive even as Ratchet frantically tries to revive him. The terror only subsides when Ratchet and the Autobots haul the big guy off to the medbay. Miko is distraught, but a similarly distressed Fowler assures her that she couldn't have done anything against the Insecticon Hardshell - whose name Miko quickly commits to memory.

Aboard the Nemesis, Megatron rages at Dreadwing, Knock Out, and Hardshell's failures in the aftermath of the relic hunts, demanding to know why only Soundwave returned with something other than an excuse. Hardshell steps forward and accepts responsibility for losing the Tox-En, but claims to have killed Bulkhead. Megatron is pleased by the Insecticon's apparent kill, and Knock Out admits it's been a long time since anyone killed an Autobot. Hardshell claims that it's only because Insecticons have not been around to get the job done right, but Knock Out quips that the Insecticon he was partnered with was useless. Megatron stops the argument from going any further, and Hardshell swears that he's not bluffing.

Some time later, Optimus has returned from his mission, and promises to keep a clearly shaken Fowler updated on Bulkhead's condition. This does nothing to defuse the thick tension in the base, however. Arcee reports Wheeljack's impending arrival, which upsets Miko, who believes they've given up on her guardian. She storms off to the top of the base, claiming to seek a ride from Fowler. Wheeljack arrives, and when Ratchet reports Bulkhead is finally stable, he promises to make whoever's responsible pay. Optimus allows him to go, conceding he couldn't stop Wheeljack from going off even if he tried. In the Jackhammer, Wheeljack discovers the stowaway Miko, and tries to return her to the base. However, Miko reveals she knows who injured Bulkhead, and will tell who if she can accompany him on his crusade. Wheeljack reluctantly relents, and she and her cell phone prove instrumental to him taking an Energon mine by himself.

On the Nemesis, Hardshell gloats to his brethren about his kill, and of their superiority overall. Two Vehicons badmouth the Insecticons, sparking an all-out brawl between the two sub-groups, which ruins Knock Out's buffing session. Knock Out later proposes to restrain the Insecticons for their sparking dissension among the ranks, but just as Hardshell is about to start another argument, they get a call from Energon mine TVC-15. It's Wheeljack, who demands Megatron send Hardshell to face him, lest he capture and destroy more of his Energon mines. Megatron isn't too concerned about losing an asset here or there, but is livid when Wheeljack makes it clear that Bulkhead survived. Hardshell is horrified, but insists that Wheeljack is bluffing, given his partner's injuries. Megatron is enraged and declares that Hardshell owes him a Spark; if not Bulkhead's, then Wheeljack's.

Wheeljack and Miko debate Bulkhead's chances, but the poor girl is so tired she falls asleep. When they reach their destination, Wheeljack orders her to use the Jackhammer's autopilot to return to base if he loses the fight. Wheeljack and Hardshell tear into each other, but Hardshell wins by virtue of his size, brutality, and sheer bloodlust. Wheeljack can only weakly mumble for Miko to run for it as Hardshell prepares to kill him. However, Miko does the unthinkable - she fires on Hardshell using the Jackhammer, blowing him to pieces. Wheeljack retreats just as a horde of Insecticons pursue, and is able to dispatch them with an entire cargo hold of grenades. He welcomes Miko to the Wreckers, but she admits she feels no better than she did before.

At the Autobot base, Ratchet sadly reports that Bulkhead will live, but likely will never be at the top of his game again. Miko weeps at her unconscious partner's side, grieving that her actions did nothing to help him. Wheeljack finds little welcome from the rest of the team, all giving him a stern look for putting Miko in harm's way. He leaves the base, not just because he doesn't want to see Bulkhead in such a way, but because he quickly realizes he's no longer welcome here.

The Insecticons bring Hardshell's devastated corpse back to the Nemesis to Megatron. Though he got the Spark Hardshell owed him, he is mortified that apparently Wheeljack did this to the fiercest of the Insecticons. One very humbled Insecticon corrects him, and reveals it was a human girl who killed Hardshell. This comes as a tremendous shock to the Decepticon leader, which quickly turns to one of realisation as he remembers the human child who threatened him some time ago...

Tropes:

• An Aesop: Revenge is ultimately hollow. Even if you get back at the person who hurt a loved one, it doesn't change what happened.
• Avenging the Villain: Other Insecticons were at the location, but they only reveal themselves after Hardshell is destroyed. They immediately pursue the Jackhammer.
• Batman Gambit: To draw out Hardshell, Wheeljack takes over a Decepticon mine, broadcasts his demand to Megatron, and promises to hit another location soon. He knows the combination of a loss of resources and especially saying that Bulkhead is Not Quite Dead will anger Megatron into ordering Hardshell to go to the next location.
• Bittersweet Ending: Miko avenges Bulkhead by killing Hardshell, but it does nothing to improves the Autobot's condition. She sums it up best.
  "Then why don't I feel any better?"
  • Unfortunately, once an Insecticon informs Megatron who killed Hardshell, he comes to the conclusion that the human children pose just as much of a threat to him as Optimus and the other Autobots.
• Break the Cutie: What happened to Bulkhead has clearly taken its toll on Miko.
• Bullying a Dragon: After they pass by, two Vehicons quietly mock Hardshell and two other Insecticons as "scavengers" and "scrap-eaters." Unfortunately for them, the Insecticons heard them.
• The Cameo: Dreadwing and Soundwave appear in the background during the scene where Megatron berates his troops for their failures.
• Casual Danger Dialogue: Wheeljack gladly engages in it, during the fight. Hardshell, however, dismisses this trope as a sign of weakness.
• Chekhov's Classroom: Just before Wheeljack destroys the Decepticon mine, Miko is shown intently watching which button he presses to do so. She hits the same button to save Wheeljack, as well as fatally wound Hardshell.
• Could Say It, But...: Knock Out all but congratulates Hardshell for his supposed kill, admitting it's been a while since anyone's killed an Autobot. Hardshell immediately makes him regret it, boasting about Insecticon superiority.
• Continuity Nod: Knock Out mentions it's been a long time since there was an Autobot fatality at Decepticon hands.
• Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: Did Miko just blast Hardshell to pieces?
• Double Meaning: The episode title refers to Bulkhead's condition, the damaged pride of Hardshell, the "hurt" Wheeljack puts on Megatron's operations and, above all, the pain Jackie and Miko feel of almost losing their partner.
• Everyone Has Standards: Wheeljack was fine with Miko doing some scouting of the mine, as he was going to be close by to watch over her, but he wasn't even going to consider letting her anywhere near a one-on-one brawl with an Insecticon. He explicitly tells her how to use the autopilot to escape if anything happens to him, and then locks her in his ship to keep her out of the fight.
  Wheeljack: Sorry, kid, but Bulkhead's gonna wake up, and he'll file off my rivets if you're not there when he does.
• Evil Virtues: Megatron is enraged when it's revealed Hardshell misinformed him about Bulkhead, which is more infuriating to him than Bulkhead's survival or the loss of Energon mines.
• Evil vs. Evil: Downplayed in the form of Inter-Service Rivalry. Hardshell's supposed kill of Bulkhead goes to his head and causes him and the other Insecticons to clash with the other Decepticons a lot, due to Hardshell boasting now Megatron knows only an Insecticon warrior can get the job done right. He and Knock Out nearly come to blows when Knock Out says the Insecticon that was part of his own team was completely useless, and a fight breaks out in the hallway between two Vehicons and Hardshell and two other Insecticons. Knock Out goes to Megatron, pointing out how the Insecticons are causing dissension among the ranks and are a threat to the ship and crew, but the plotline is dropped once Megatron learns Hardshell didn't actually kill Bulkhead, with Knock Out getting the last laugh, taunting Hardshell he and the other "bugs" aren't as tough as they're cracked up to be after all.
• Exact Words: Megatron immediately picks up what Wheeljack said when he said what he wanted.
  Wheeljack: The Insecticon scum who tried to frag Bulkhead.
  Megatron: "Tried"? [glares at Hardshell] Are you saying the Autobot lives?
• Fantastic Racism: Knock Out and several mooks look down on the Insecticons simply for being "bugs."
• Fascinating Eyebrow: Megatron when he's told that a mere human girl (Miko) destroyed Hardshell.
• Foreshadowing: When told Miko killed Hardshell, the gears in Megatron's head quickly begin turning. This episode, as well as The Human Factor, finally convince Megatron how dangerous and useful humans are in the war. This comes back to bite Team Prime hard in the season finale.
• Graceful Loser: While Knock Out and Dreadwing gave excuses for their failures, Hardshell humbly accepts the blame for failing to get the Tox-En. This is only because he thinks he's killed Bulkhead, though. If he knew Bulkhead had survived, it's quite clear he'd be groveling for forgiveness himself.
• Happy Ending Override: Taking place immediately after the end of "Tunnel Vision", Miko is excited not only helping completing her team's mission, but about to reunite with her Autobot partner Bulkhead. Her joy is replaced with horror the moment she sees Bulkhead lying unresponsive, after his mission in "Toxicity".
• Hive Mind: According to Wheeljack, all Insecticons are bound by one. That's what makes drawing out a specific Insecticon so tricky.
• Honorary True Companion: After Miko takes down Hardshell Wheeljack congratulations her after they escape the Insecticon swarm, not that she's in any mood to celebrate.
  Wheeljack: Welcome to the Wreckers, kid! You did Bulkhead proud!
• Hope Spot: After Miko uses the Jackhammer to take out Hardshell, Wheeljack is quite relieved. Then he sees a whole bunch of other Insecticons revealing themselves on the cliff.
• Inter-Service Rivalry: The Insecticons have one with the Vehicons and Knock Out.
• Knuckle Cracking: Hardshell ahead of when he intends to finish off Wheeljack.
• Little "No": Miko when it looks like Hardshell is going to kill Wheeljack.
• Minor Injury Overreaction: Averted. After the brawl between the Vehicons and Insecticons injures him, Knock Out goes right to Megatron to complain. Megatron assumes he's just dramatically overreacting to a minor scratch he suffered, but Knock Out insists it's the Inter-Service Rivalry he's complaining about.
• No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Hardshell delivers an absolutely brutal one to Wheeljack after gaining the advantage.
• No One Could Survive That!: The basis of Hardshell's bluff, and it ultimately proves fatal. If Miko hadn't killed him, Megatron probably would've if Wheeljack hadn't provided an opportunity for Hardshell to redeem himself.
  Hardshell: Lord Megatron, I swear upon the Allspark: the Autobot could not have survived his wounds!
  Megatron: Then you owe me a spark. And if it's not the one belonging to Bulkhead, it had better be Wheeljack's!
• Not Quite Dead: Bulkhead. Viewers learn that quickly enough, but Hardshell thought he actually killed him and told Megatron that. Megatron was not happy when he learned the truth.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Miko's Genki Girl attitude takes a serious blow the moment she sees Bulk in critical condition.
• Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Optimus expects Wheeljack to avenge Bulkhead in a way he feels he couldn't stop. Miko sneaks in his ship to join in.
• Say My Name: Miko shouts Wheeljack's name when the fight takes a turn for the worse.
• Single Tear: Miko when it looks like Wheeljack is about to die.
• Taught by Experience: Hardshell boasts that his previous bouts with Bulkhead taught him how to anticipate Wheeljack's Wrecker tricks.
• Took a Level in Badass: Miko.
• Vengeance Feels Empty: Miko finds this out after killing Hardshell. The fresh feeling of almost losing him doesn't go away after the job is done, especially since Bulkhead is alive but still sick.
• Villainous Demotivator: Megatron doesn't hold back at all when berating his troops for their failures in the relic hunts. Only Soundwave is spared since he actually returned with a relic, and Hardshell is able to mollify his master by claiming to have killed Bulkhead.
• We Have Reserves: Megatron is not at all concerned when Wheeljack announces that he's destroyed one of his mines, pointing out that losing one asset is hardly a blow to the Decepticon cause.
• Wham Episode: Miko delivers the finishing blow against Hardshell, but loses her innocence for good. Bulkhead may never recover thanks to the Tox-En, and Megatron finally begins to realize how dangerous humans really are. Definitely one of the most emotionally powerful episodes of the series.
• Wham Line: For the Decepticons.
  Wheeljack: The Insecticon scum who tried to frag Bulkhead.
• What the Hell, Hero?: The Autobots are not happy with Wheeljack allowing Miko to tag along, giving him a stern look.
• You Have Failed Me: Megatron to Hardshell, with the Insecticon's only hope for redemption and avoidance of potential death being bringing back an Autobot's Spark, whether it be Bulkhead's or Wheeljack's. He almost succeeds, but it's not Wheeljack's Spark that Megatron gets at the end.